Mandated 24-Hour In-Service Audit

Mandated 24-Hour In-Service Audit

Effective January 1, 2006, every peace officer certified under RCW 43-101-095 is required to complete a minimum of 24-hours of in-service training annually. 

Effective January 1, 2016, every reserve peace officer as defined by WAC 139-05-810 will complete a minimum of 24-hours of in-service training annually. 

Effective January 1, 2026, corrections officers and certified limited authority peace officers under RCW 43-101-095 will be required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training annually. See WAC 139-01-310 (3) for the definition of certified limited authority peace officers.

Per WAC 139-05-300 (Requirement for In-service Training), certified officer (reserves, peace and corrections officer and certified limited authority peace officers) is used throughout this WAC to ensure all mandated personnel complete 24 hours of in-service training annually.

Training Records

All training records for WAC 139-05-300 must be maintained by the employing agency and be available for review upon request by an authorized commission representative. 

Documentation can be in any format that works best for the agency.  We have provided a 24-hour Mandate - Excel Training Tracking Template available for use; feel free to modify the template. Certificates or documentation of training completed must also be on file.

Submission Requirements

The Declaration of Compliance form is due to the WSCJTC 24-hour In-Service Auditor on or by March 15 for the previous calendar year.  An agency failing to complete their training audit and submit the Declaration of Compliance Form by the due date is non-compliant.

Please submit completed and signed declaration forms by mail or email to kayla.wold@cjtc.wa.gov.  Compliant agencies will receive a letter and certificate of compliance after March 15.

2-Hour Annual Online CIT Course Mandate

• RCW 43.101.427, WAC 139-05-300, and WAC 139-09-020, requires all certified officers to successfully pass the WSCJTC’s 2-hour CIT course as part of the 24-hour annual in-service training requirement.
• Successful completion of the 2-hour CIT course requires a passing score of 80% or higher and will include a certificate of completion.
• This requirement needs to be completed annually between January 1 - December 31, each year.
• If an officer completes the Basic Academy or Equivalency Academy during the auditing year, they are not required to take the 2-hour CIT course until the following year.
• If an Officer resigned/retired during the auditing calendar year, they are not required to be reported in the audit.
• Failure to complete this course may result in a non-compliance for your agency.
• If you need an agency completion report, you can email cit@cjtc.wa.gov.
  • If you need assistance with the 2-hour CIT course in Acadis, please contact lms@wscjtc.freshdesk.com 

Extensions

24-hour annual in-service training extension:  If an officer has been out on documented leave, they may request an extension to fulfill their required training hours per WAC 139-05-300 (4). A chief or sheriff may request a three-month extension by doing so in writing to the Commission. The three-month extension provides the individual named until March 31 to complete the remaining mandated 24-hours of training. Any training obtained during this three-month extension only counts towards the previous year being audited. Extensions must be submitted by December 1 of the calendar year in question.

2-hour online CIT course extension:

If an officer has been out on documented leave from October to the end of the calendar year, the agency may request an extension for the 2-hour online CIT course. If an officer is expected to return before February 1st extensions are appropriate. Requests should be received by February 1st for the previous auditing year. The officer will then have until February 28th to complete the re-assigned course. 

Waivers

If an officer is unable to complete the training requirements due to extenuating circumstances (military, medical or unexpected leave), the agency may request a waiver if an officer was on documented leave from October through the end of the year. If an officer is not expected to return by February 1st, waivers are appropriate. Requests should be received by February 1st for the calendar year in question.

Any requests submitted after February 1^st will be denied.

Denials may be appealed to the Commission under WAC 139-03-030.

Requested Materials (for extensions or waivers)

A letter from the agency’s chief of sheriff on agency head outlining:

• The officers name and dates of absence
• Type of request being submitted
• An explanation pertaining to why the training could not be completed in the mandated timeframe.

Eligible Training

Eligible training includes all courses offered by the WSCJTC, FBI, FLETC, IACP as well as WASPC’s training day.  Agency training on defensive tactics, blood borne pathogens, EVOC, Firearms and first aid, etc. is eligible. In addition, you can count up to 8-hours per person per year for Lexipol, however the topics cannot be agency specific policy or procedures.

The 24-hours can be completed by one course or by any combination of WSCJTC, vendor, online, or agency developed training as long as it is not agency specific. The training gained must transfer with the officer and be useful throughout the office’s career. There must be a completion certificate or other documentation on file.

For more online training opportunities, please visit our training portal in Acadis.

Pro-rate Formula

Any officer that has been out of the office greater than a month, can apply our pro-rated formula

of two hours X’s the number of months that they are out.  Note, the officer must be out for a full month (consecutively) in order for the formula to be applied.

For example, if an officer was out of the office from April – July, this officer would be given 8 hours of “credited” time and would still be required to have 16 hours of training for the year (4 months out of office X’s 2 hours per month = 8 hours of credited time).

New Officers & Lateral Officers

If you hired a new officer or an out-of-state lateral officer who attended a Basic Academy or the Equivalency Academy in the calendar you are auditing:

• New officer with Basic Academy – no additional 24 hours.
• Out-of-state lateral who attended WSCJTC’s Equivalency Academy – no additional 24 hours.

If you hired a new officer as an in-state lateral officer in the calendar year you are auditing:

• You are responsible that they meet the mandate by the end of the calendar year.
• You can request their training records and use the eligible training to meet the mandate.

Contact

If you have any further questions regarding the 24-hour in-service training requirement, please contact:

Kayla Wold, 24-hour In-Service Auditor
(206) 835-7306
kayla.wold@cjtc.wa.gov